Question about Windows user accounts

[petesamprs]

My home computer (Win XP home) has 5 accounts for each person who uses it. My account is the administrator, and everyone else is limited.

When I install games on my computer, I usually do it in my account since I'm the one that plays the most. However, my little brother (6), sees me playing and likes to play also when I'm not home. When he tries to open the games (through start menu) from his limited account, it usually gives some error message or simply doesn't open...

How do I allow a game to run on his account? More generally, how can I ensure that software that I install runs cleanly on everyone's account?

thanks.

 

[Spikesoldier]

you have to give him, the group he is in, or everyone rights to the directory of the installed program.

 

[petesamprs]

But the directory is C:/Program files. everyone has access to that.

 

[PowerEngineer]

You might want to check out what Spikesoldier suggested; I believe that "limited" users all have read rights to the created program folders, but you often have to give them full control (i.e. write, delete..) in order for the games to function properly.

Older software (pre-W2K) often don't always conform to the restrictions on user accounts and may even require administrator rights to run properly. As a funny example, the spell checker in Word '97 will not run for a "limited" account user in WXP. One way around this is to use the "RUNAS" command, which allows you to run a program using the rights of a different user (presumably with more rights). I have done this myself, but didn't completely work through all the nigglely problems. In the end, I found it easier to upgrade the old software.

Good luck!

 

[BFG10K]

Try adding him to the Power Users group. Don't use "run as.." because you'll have to give him the admin username & password which defeats the whole purpose of locking down the computer.

 

[theAnimal]

You will need to give him write and possibly delete permission in the diriectory for the game (ie C:\Sierra\Half-Life). Either use "cacls" in a cmd window if you're comfortable with that, or boot into safe mode and go to the Security tab in the Properties of the directory.